Overview

Barbados is truly a unique tropical tourism destination. A 166 square mile gem of white sand beaches, a complex mix of high-class accommodation, made up of intimate guest-houses, small, medium and large hotels, luxury apartments, villas, and condominiums. An array of quality restaurants providing a culinary experience that is not easily found in anywhere and the picture of the ideal tourist island begins to take shape. Place these obvious tourism attributes along side an activities calendar that is second to none and what tourism planners on this most easterly of the chain of Caribbean islands may just have created, is the most complete tourism and hospitality oriented destination in the region. However, Barbados’ brand of hospitality goes way beyond the traditional tourism and hospitality mix for which this tropical region has become renowned. Barbados is a country that boasts infrastructural development attributes that places the island way ahead of its neighbours. An expansive road network of major highways and well paved minor roads that uniquely link every area of the island, modern accessible buildings, a telecommunications network that is as effective and reliable as any in any developed country and an educated populace that supplies to the industry a set of the most competently trained hospitality personnel in the industry, makes for the ideal tropical island tourism and hospitality experience.

Fast Facts

Contribution to GDP

156,200 (2009R) 160,000 (2010P)

Employment

12,700 (2012)

Selected Indicators

Year

*Sharein GDP(%)

TotalExpenditure($M)

No. ofBeds

Hotel RoomOccupancyRate (%)

Arrivals

StayoverVisitors

CruisePassengers

2009

14.4

1,149.7

6,984

55.0

518,564

635,212

2010

14.7

1,222.7

6,570

56.0

532,180

664,747

2011R

–

1,411.8

n.a.

60.6

567,724

609,844

2012P

–

1,330.4

n.a.

61.8

536,303

517,436

Source: Barbados Economic and Social Report 2012

Web & Other Resources

Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA)

This website offers information about the association and provides access to the Visitors Guide. http://www.bhta.org

This website provides information for those considering investment in the tourism and hospitality industry. The BTI assists by identifying investment opportunities, identifying service providers, liaising with government department and so on. http://barbadostourisminvestment.com

Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism

CAST’s mission is to enhance the practices of the region’s hotel and tourism operators by providing high quality education and training related to sustainable tourism. Their website provides information on what they do including the training courses and workshops that the organization hosts. (http://www.cha-cast.com)

The Caribbean Tourism Organization’s exists to increase significantly the inclusion of the Caribbean region in the set of destinations being considered by travellers. Their website is a great resource for tourism statistics and market research information. (http://www.onecaribbean.org)

The PSTT provides professional contributions to Barbados and regional trade negotiations on behalf of the Barbados private sector. This PSTT website has current information on the latest developments in the various sectors. http://www.tradeteam.bb

Tourism Development Corporation (TDC)

TDC supports marketing initiatives targeted at regional and international tourist markets that seek to promote Barbados as a desirable tourism destination. http://www.tdcbarbados.com